Law to protect bereaved fathers

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While, fortunately, it affects very few people every year, the government says it will plug a loop hole in the case of a mother dying in child birth and the father’s right to maternity leave.

Currently, in such a case – there is no provision in law for the father to take a longer period of maternity leave. He’d be entitled to the 2 weeks of paternity and that’s it. 

A proposal in parliament, which the government backs, will allow the transfer of maternity leave to the surviving father. The Federal Council says in such a sad case, the needs of the child takes precedence.

Figures show on average 5 women a year die in child birth – that’s out of a total of 82,000 annual births. 

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